A toxic algae bloom known as Red Tide has overrun Florida‘s southern Gulf Coast this summer, devastating sea life and driving people from the water.
Red tide – a naturally occurring toxic algae bloom that can be harmful to people with respiratory problems- has spread throughout the Gulf of Mexico, drifting in the water since it began in October.
It also means there are tons of dead fish leaving a foul smelling odor. That has resulted in empty beaches, empty roads and empty restaurants.
‘I’ve never seen it this bad,’ said 31-year-old Heather Lamb of Venice. She’s a hairdresser and makeup artist who styled herself as a dead mermaid and posted photos on social media to raise awareness of the problem.
‘I feel like it cleanses your soul to go to the beach. For me to not be able to go, it’s painful. I think a lot of people take for granted when they live in Florida. Some people save their paychecks for a whole year to come here.’
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Dead fish are shown near a boat ramp in Bradenton Beach, Florida. About 135 miles north, beach communities along the Gulf coast have been plagued with red tide
The Governor of Florida issued a state of emergency in response to this year’s excessive red tide, the toxic algae bloom spreading across the West Coast of the Sunshine State and leaving beaches covered with piles of dead marine wildlife…….more here